Danielle's Speech

Beth and I were friends since we went here at Bagnall together. I had the pleasure of being her best friend in 6th grade. I have found memories of the 6th grade science fair where we replicated the Ogden Martin Trash to Energy Plant. Or at Otter Lake being gone for a whole week from our families and being homesick. But I think my favorite memory is of us singing to the oldies and having a whole dance routine to My Boyfriend’s Back. Some may wonder: why the butterflies?The Brodie's received this sentiment on FIVE identical sympathy cards…A butterfly lights beside usLike a sunbeam.And for a brief moment Its glory and beautyBelong to our world.But then it flies on againAnd though we wish It could have stayedWe feel so luckyTo have seen it.After that, the butterfly was the symbol printed on the t shirts for the Road Race and Fun Walk that lasted 8 years to fund the Beth Brodie Scholarship…Before one road race, Mrs. Brodie saw a butterfly flutter past her as she was driving and landed on the sign advertising the road race.During another road race, Mrs. Brodie was visited by a monarch butterfly that landed on her hand and stayed for about 10 minutes…Mrs. Brodie has worn a butterfly charm for 20 years; On her youngest daughter, Kellie’s, wedding day last year, as she was changing, the necklace broke and the butterfly fell to the floor. There is no doubt in my mind these are all times of Beth showing her presence!In fact, on a road trip recently with my mother, we were having serious transmission trouble. Everywhere we stopped, there were yellow butterflies. Through North Carolina, South Carolina to Florida, yellow butterflies were everywhere we stopped. Again, there's no doubt in my mind that was Beth making sure we got there safely! Beth has touched so many of us in so many different ways… I would like to end by sharing a poem my boyfriend, Kevin Fitzgerald, wrote. He did not have the pleasure of knowing Beth, but I think his words really convey how much she has touched everyone…To A Girl I've Never MetHearing about you and the things you used to do If only you knew how many people are here for you Showing so much support For a life that was cut too shortFor a beautiful smile, a beautiful girlTrying to seek justice in an unjust world You’re remembered as a butterflyLooking down on us from the skyYou are our strength when we are weakSo we will say the words you cannot speakThrough the good times and the bad Always appreciate the ones you haveTimes like these we come together as oneJustice will be served we are not doneFor a daughter, a sister and a friendWe will fight this fight until the end